After everyone had left, Xie Yuling slumped onto the desk and said to Lin Mo beside her, "Exams are exhausting, and there's still another one coming up."
The schedule for the monthly exams was indeed packed.
Next up was physics.
However, Guangba Middle School had one advantage—after the exams, students didn’t have to attend evening self-study and could go straight home to rest.
It was a rare act of mercy in an otherwise brutal system.
After all, other schools would spread nine subjects over three days, but Guangba crammed them all into two.
The first day alone, with Chinese, math, and English at full intensity, was already inhuman enough.
After splitting into science and arts tracks in the second year of high school, comprehensive science and liberal arts exams were scheduled for the second day.
The first day wasn’t as bad in comparison.
But now, all exams were subject-based.
At that moment, many students were already snacking to replenish their energy.
Chu Miaomiao appeared out of nowhere and placed a bag of bread in front of Lin Mo.
She glanced cautiously at Xie Yuling and Lin Mo.
"Have something to eat, or you’ll be too tired."
Lin Mo didn’t hesitate at all. She opened the bag, grabbed a bread roll, and popped it into her mouth.
Pork floss and cream bread—high in calories and sugar, perfect for an energy boost.
Lin Mo finished one in just a few bites.
But Chu Miaomiao turned to Xie Yuling and asked timidly, "Aren’t you going to eat?"
Xie Yuling didn’t know how to respond and could only look up at Lin Mo.
Lin Mo put on a serious face, picked up another bread roll, and shoved it into Xie Yuling’s hand.
"This is Chu Miaomiao’s friendship fee. If you accept it, you have to be her friend."
Hearing this, Xie Yuling immediately sat up straight, staring at the bread in her hand and then at the insecure-looking Chu Miaomiao.
"Do you have to pay a fee to be friends?"
Lin Mo took another bite of bread.
"It keeps things pure. Of course, you’ll have to pay her back too. Friendship is about give and take."
Xie Yuling lowered her head, examining the slightly greasy bread in her hand, then took a small bite before looking back at Lin Mo.
"So when are you going to pay me the friendship fee?"
Lin Mo rolled her eyes. "What about all the shrimp you ate? Doesn’t that count?"
Xie Yuling’s face flushed. "But I didn’t pay you anything."
"You did. Your friendship fee is still sitting on my desk at home."
Xie Yuling immediately thought of that cup.
So that was the friendship fee?
Chu Miaomiao watched as Xie Yuling ate the bread, feeling a little happy. Did this mean they were friends now?
The Introverted Me Has Very Few Friends – Season 1 was now airing.
After eating, Lin Mo drank some water and headed back to the exam hall.
Lu Xiaochen was already seated in her spot, but even when Lin Mo sat down, she didn’t glance over. Clearly, she was still holding a grudge.
Fine, don’t join us. But did you have to mock us?
It wasn’t like they were completely useless—they just wanted Lin Mo as insurance.
But without that safety net, the seniors might have to go all-in now.
With that thought, the physics exam began.
Lin Mo casually scribbled down formulas for acceleration and Newton’s Third Law.
Physics and math were closely related—if you were good at one, the other wouldn’t be far behind.
Lin Mo could breeze through most of the problems.
If cultivators were all so smart, why were there still so many idiots?
Apparently, cultivation didn’t boost intelligence.
But Lin Mo had never been stupid to begin with, and now, with her enhanced memory, she was unstoppable.
She wanted to study properly, to make up for what she’d missed in her past life.
If she just wanted to "not eat beef," she could’ve locked herself away and cultivated until the end of time, emerging only when she was invincible.
But where was the fun in that?
Right now, Lin Mo was enjoying herself.
Enjoying the exams. Enjoying the learning.
Done!
Once again, she finished way ahead of time.
Lu Xiaochen couldn’t help but notice Lin Mo’s actions.
She muttered under her breath, "Show-off."
Lin Mo heard it but didn’t care.
When time was up, Lin Mo packed up and handed in her paper.
Only a few students from Class 8 were in the exam hall, none of whom she knew well, so she headed straight back to the classroom.
When she returned, Xie Yuling had already packed her things and was waiting for her.
"I told Mom there’s no evening self-study today, so we can eat as soon as we get home."
Then, the girl suddenly mouthed: Friendship fee.
Oh, so Auntie Zheng’s cooking counts as my friendship fee now? That’s supposed to be her friendship fee to me!
Fang Jun returned from another exam hall.
"I knew you two would still be here. Let’s go."
When Fang Jun appeared, Jiang Yunlu, who had been silently watching the two from the doorway, let out a small sigh of relief.
The pressure from the little landlady was overwhelming, but there was nothing she could do. Chu Miaomiao could at least offer bread, but Jiang Yunlu couldn’t even do that.
She could only watch as Lin Mo and the landlady chatted, unable to join in or even find a way in.
Her only advantage was being Lin Mo’s desk mate.
"See you tomorrow, Jiang Yunlu."
Just as Lin Mo was about to leave, Jiang Yunlu suddenly heard those words.
She looked up to see Lin Mo waving at her.
Instantly, a fierce warmth surged in her chest.
"Okay! See you tomorrow!"
Lin Mo turned and walked away.
Watching her retreating figure, Jiang Yunlu felt that familiar sense of defeat creeping back.
"Look, maybe you should just let it go," Wang Qin said, adjusting her backpack as she studied the usually composed young lady.
"Even you’re telling me to give up?" Jiang Yunlu looked up at Wang Qin.
Wang Qin sighed. "Yunlu, you’re amazing. And yeah, Lin Mo’s great too. But she’s… magnetic. She gets along with everyone, and keeping up with that will drain you."
"You’re right." Jiang Yunlu knew Wang Qin wasn’t wrong.
She lowered her head, mulling over the words, but still couldn’t bring herself to decide.
Since childhood, whenever she faced a dilemma, she’d consult her aunt. This time was no different.
But when she got home, her aunt wasn’t there—probably away on business.
So Jiang Yunlu had no choice but to suppress the turmoil in her heart.
Seeing his daughter so troubled, Jiang Chengshan, ever the doting father, decided to intervene.
"Sweetheart, is something bothering you? Why not tell your old man about it?"
Huh?!
Tell Dad about having feelings for someone?
If she did, Lin Mo’s entire profile would probably be on his desk by morning.
So Jiang Yunlu shook her head. "No, it’s just the monthly exams. I was thinking about where I messed up."
Jiang Chengshan saw right through her lie.
But he played along—teenage worries were normal. He retreated to his study and called Jiang Chengyue.
With a grave tone, he said into the phone,
"What do we do? Yunlu… I think she likes someone."